The Life of Harry Potter: The Hero's Journey Explained (Video Essay / Theory Video)

Summary

This video script explores the structure of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series through the lens of Joseph Campbell's 'Hero's Journey'. It outlines Harry's progression from his ordinary life to facing challenges and gaining allies in the Wizarding World. Key moments like receiving his Hogwarts letter, meeting Dumbledore, and overcoming internal and external conflicts are highlighted. The script also touches on Harry's ultimate sacrifice and rebirth, leading to his victory over Voldemort and a new life with his family.

Takeaways

• 📚 Harry Potter follows the 'Hero's Journey' narrative arc, a classic writing formula developed by Joseph Campbell.
• 🌐 The 'Hero's Journey' consists of twelve stages that describe the adventure of the hero, in this case, Harry Potter.
• 👶 Harry's ordinary world is the Muggle world, which sets the stage for his character and abilities.
• 📜 The call to adventure comes when Hagrid delivers Harry's Hogwarts letter, disrupting his ordinary life.
• 🤔 Harry experiences reluctance to accept his role as the hero, especially when faced with the prophecy.
• 🚪 Crossing the threshold signifies Harry's commitment to his journey as he enters the Wizarding World.
• 🧙‍♂️ Albus Dumbledore serves as Harry's mentor, providing guidance, training, and confidence throughout his journey.
• 🔮 Harry faces a series of tests, allies, and enemies, which challenge him and help him grow as a hero.
• 🏰 The approach to the inmost cave represents Harry's inner conflicts and the dangers he faces in his quest.
• 🔙 The road back signifies Harry's return to the ordinary world, now changed and ready to face his final challenges.
• 💀 The ordeal and resurrection stages reflect Harry's literal brush with death and his rebirth as a stronger hero.
• 🏆 The reward stage sees Harry emerge victorious with the Deathly Hallows, symbolizing his triumph over Voldemort.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 In the end, Harry's journey concludes with him starting a new life, having grown and learned from his experiences.

Q & A

What is the hero's journey?

The hero's journey is a twelve-stage narrative arc that describes the typical adventure of the hero, which was originally constructed by Joseph Campbell.

How does the hero's journey relate to Harry Potter?

J.K. Rowling followed the hero's journey formula in writing the Harry Potter series, which is evident in the way Harry's story unfolds across the books.

What is the ordinary world in Harry Potter?

The ordinary world in Harry Potter is the muggle world where Harry lives with the Dursleys before he receives his Hogwarts letter.

What is the call to adventure for Harry?

The call to adventure for Harry is when Hagrid arrives to deliver his Hogwarts letter, disrupting his ordinary life and presenting him with the quest to enter the Wizarding World.

What does the refusal of the call signify in Harry's journey?

The refusal of the call signifies Harry's personal doubts and fears about whether he is capable or the right person to undertake the challenges that lie ahead.

Can you explain the crossing of the threshold in Harry's story?

Crossing the threshold is when Harry decides to leave the Dursleys and the muggle world behind, entering the Wizarding World, which has unfamiliar rules and values.

Who is Harry's mentor figure in the series?

Albus Dumbledore serves as Harry's mentor, providing him with guidance, wisdom, and support throughout his journey.

What challenges does Harry face in the 'tests, allies, and enemies' stage?

Harry faces physical obstacles such as Quirrell and the basilisk, as well as internal obstacles like dealing with fame and the loss of his parents.

How does the approach to the inmost cave reflect Harry's inner conflict?

The approach to the inmost cave reflects Harry's inner conflict as he grapples with his connection to Voldemort and the fear of following a similar path.

What is the significance of the road back step in Harry's journey?

The road back signifies Harry's return to the ordinary world, in this case, going back to the Dursleys before his mission to find the Horcruxes, symbolizing the final step before his ultimate confrontation with Voldemort.

What does Harry gain from the ordeal and resurrection steps?

In the ordeal, Harry faces death and is reborn with greater power and insight, which allows him to protect his allies during the Battle of Hogwarts in the resurrection.

What is the reward Harry receives after his journey?

Harry's reward is the Deathly Hallows, which symbolize his victory over death and his growth as a hero. He becomes the master of death without taking on the mantle.

How does Harry's life change after completing his journey?

After his journey, Harry becomes an Auror, gets married to Ginny, has children, and reconciles with former enemies, showing his transformation into a changed and mature individual.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to the Hero's Journey in Harry Potter

The script begins by discussing the immense popularity of the Harry Potter series and the author J.K. Rowling's use of the classic 'Hero's Journey' narrative structure, which was originally developed by Joseph Campbell. The narrator, a film student, expresses enthusiasm for this technique and plans to analyze how Rowling applied it to Harry's story. Instead of recounting Harry's entire life, the focus will be on the broader narrative arc that encompasses the entire series, with some deviation from the traditional twelve-step structure to fit the story better.

05:07

🧙‍♂️ Harry's Mentors and Allies

This section delves into the role of mentors and allies in Harry's journey. Dumbledore serves as the primary mentor, providing guidance, wisdom, and confidence to Harry throughout his adventures. Other mentors include Remus Lupin and Sirius Black, who also offer support and advice. The paragraph highlights the importance of allies like Ron, Hermione, and the members of Dumbledore's Army in Harry's battles against enemies such as Voldemort, Draco Malfoy, and Bellatrix Lestrange. It also discusses Harry's internal struggles with fame and the constant reminder of his parents' death, as well as his physical challenges like facing Quirrell, the basilisk, and Dementors.

10:10

🏰 The Inmost Cave and the Road Back

The script describes the 'Approach to the Inmost Cave' as a point of intense internal conflict for Harry, where he grapples with his similarities to Voldemort and the fear of following a similar path. It also represents the dangerous quest for Horcruxes, which leads Harry away from the safety of Hogwarts. The 'Road Back' is marked by Harry's return to the Dursleys' before his mission to find the Horcruxes, signifying the end of his mother's protective enchantment and the increased danger he faces.

15:10

🛡 The Ordeal, Resurrection, and Reward

The script explains the 'Ordeal' and 'Resurrection' as Harry's literal brush with death, which leads to a metaphorical rebirth granting him the power to protect his allies during the Battle of Hogwarts. This self-sacrifice and the protective enchantment he casts are seen as his 'reward' for overcoming his journey's challenges. The final step, 'Return with the Elixir,' sees Harry emerge from the battle stronger, having attained the Deathly Hallows, and ready to start a new life.

🌟 Harry's Life Post-Journey

The final paragraph outlines Harry's life after his journey, including his career as an Auror, his rise to head of the Auror Office, and his marriage to Ginny Weasley with whom he has three children. It also mentions the resolution of rivalries with Draco Malfoy and Dudley Dursley, his support for Teddy Lupin, and the significance of his scar no longer hurting as a symbol of peace. The paragraph concludes by reflecting on Rowling's portrayal of Harry's story arc, emphasizing his selflessness, love for others, and the overarching theme that love conquers all.

Keywords

💡Hero's Journey

The Hero's Journey is a narrative template that describes the typical adventure of a hero, which was originally constructed by Joseph Campbell. In the video, it is used to analyze the structure of Harry Potter's story, showing how it follows this classic formula. The hero's journey consists of twelve stages that Harry Potter goes through, which helps to create a compelling narrative arc.

💡Ordinary World

The Ordinary World is the first stage of the Hero's Journey, representing the hero's initial situation before the adventure begins. For Harry Potter, this is his life with the Dursleys in the Muggle world. This stage sets up Harry's character and the world he is familiar with, providing a contrast to the magical world he will soon enter.

💡Call to Adventure

The Call to Adventure is the second stage of the Hero's Journey, where the hero receives a challenge or quest that disrupts their ordinary life. For Harry, this comes when Hagrid delivers his Hogwarts letter, inviting him into the Wizarding World and setting him on the path of his adventure.

💡Refusal of the Call

The Refusal of the Call is when the hero hesitates or fears to accept the challenge presented in the Call to Adventure. Harry shows this reluctance when he doubts whether he is a wizard and fears the unknown Wizarding World, contemplating staying in his familiar, though harsh, Muggle life.

💡Crossing the Threshold

Crossing the Threshold is the stage where the hero commits to leaving the Ordinary World and entering a new, unfamiliar realm. Harry crosses this threshold when he decides to leave the Dursleys and go to Hogwarts, symbolizing his commitment to his new path.

💡Mentor

A Mentor is a figure who provides guidance, training, or assistance to the hero. In the script, Albus Dumbledore serves as Harry's mentor, offering him wisdom, advice, and support throughout his journey, helping him to overcome challenges and grow as a character.

💡Tests, Allies, and Enemies

This stage of the journey involves the hero facing a series of challenges that test their abilities, forming alliances, and encountering enemies. Harry faces physical obstacles like Voldemort and internal struggles with fame and loss, while also building relationships with allies like Ron, Hermione, and the Order of the Phoenix.

💡Approach to the Inmost Cave

The Approach to the Inmost Cave represents the hero's confrontation with their inner fears or an actual dangerous location. Harry experiences this when he leaves the safety of Hogwarts to search for Horcruxes, facing both his internal doubts and the very real threat of Voldemort.

💡Road Back

The Road Back is the stage where the hero returns to the Ordinary World, often transformed by their experiences. For Harry, this is represented by his return to the Dursleys before going on his mission to find the Horcruxes, signifying the end of his time under the protective enchantment of his mother.

💡Resurrection

The Resurrection is a stage where the hero experiences a metaphorical rebirth, often after a significant trial or sacrifice. Harry's resurrection is literal and symbolic, as he sacrifices himself and then returns to lead the fight against Voldemort, emerging stronger and more determined.

💡Reward

The Reward is what the hero gains after completing their journey, often a prize or insight that aids them in their quest. For Harry, the Deathly Hallows represent his reward, granting him the tools to defeat Voldemort and象征着他旅程的完成和成长。

💡Return with Elixir

The Return with Elixir is the final stage of the Hero's Journey, where the hero returns home with a newfound wisdom or power that benefits their world. Harry's return signifies his growth and the changes he will bring to the Wizarding World, having defeated Voldemort and secured a future of peace.

Highlights

JK Rowling's Harry Potter series follows the classic 'Hero's Journey' narrative arc.

The 'Hero's Journey' was originally constructed by Joseph Campbell.

The series applies the 'Hero's Journey' formula across all books, focusing on Harry's broader story.

Harry's ordinary world is the muggle world, revealing his true nature and early abilities.

The call to adventure comes when Hagrid delivers Harry's Hogwarts letter.

Harry initially refuses the call due to personal doubts about his identity and abilities.

Crossing the threshold is symbolized by Harry's departure from the Dursleys and entry into the Wizarding World.

Meeting the mentor involves Harry receiving his wand and meeting Albus Dumbledore.

Dumbledore provides Harry with wisdom, advice, and training throughout the series.

Harry faces tests, allies, and enemies, overcoming physical and internal obstacles.

Approach to the inmost cave involves Harry's inner conflict and facing terrible danger.

The road back signifies Harry's return to the Dursleys before his mission to find Horcruxes.

The ordeal and resurrection are represented by Harry's literal death and rebirth during the Battle of Hogwarts.

The reward is Harry attaining the Deathly Hallows and emerging stronger from the battle.

The final stage sees Harry starting a new life, becoming an Auror, and mending rivalries.

Harry's story arc is a perfect example of the 'Hero's Journey', showcasing love conquers all.

Transcripts

Harry Potter is one of the most popular series ever written JK

Rowling story is nearly flawless and is loved by so many, but how did Rowling write such a perfect story?

but one of the answers to that is that she followed one of the most classic and

Well-structured writing formulas the hero's journey, which was originally constructed by Joseph Campbell I myself from a film student in college

And I've taken multiple courses on script writing, and the hero's journey is by far my favorite writing technique

And I've been dying to make a video on it

I've done a lot of character origins and life stories for Harry Potter

Characters and a lot of you have asked me to do the same for Harry himself at first

I wasn't going to do this because if you've read the books or even seen the movies

You know a story, and it would probably be an hour long video however. I thought of a cool alternative

Which is a video where I'm still gonna? Go through Harry's life, but instead of telling his whole life story

I'm gonna break down Rowling's books and the writing formula that she used and explain the hero's journey for the boy who lived

So what is the hero's journey?

well

It's a twelve stage narrative arc that describes the typical

Adventure of the hero in this case Harry the hero in the journey is the one who goes out and achieves great deeds on behalf

Of a group of people in this case The Wizarding World this structure can be found in each and every book in the series

But I'm going to look at the broader story and go over Harry's journey for the entire series

Because of this some of the things might be a bit out of order from the original twelve point instruction

But we're still gonna hit all twelve points

So let's get started the first step to the journey is the ordinary world this is where the story starts before the journey begins for

The hero for Harry the ordinary world is the muggle world?

It's here that we learn crucial details about our hero such as his true nature

Capabilities and outlook on life the first few chapters. We learn how his true nature

He's a kind and selfless person for his capabilities

We learned that Harry is capable of doing some odd things this includes ending up on rooftops while being chased by Dudley

Being able to make glass

Disappear at the zoo to make Dudley fall into the display and of course we learned about his ability to talk to snakes

Which plays a big role later on in the series?

The first step anchors the hero s human, just like the reader

And it makes it easier for us to identify with the hero which in turn makes us more invested in the character as he completes

The rest of his journey we can expect great things from you the second step is the call to adventure

This step interrupts the comfort of the hero's ordinary world and presents a challenge or quest that must be

Undertaken how ru receives his call to adventure when Hagrid comes to him and finally gives him his Hogwarts letter

it

Disrupts his ordinary muggle life and changes his whole view on the world it presents him with the quest the quest being to go to

Hogwarts and to enter the Wizarding World

The next step is the refusal to the call in this stage of the journey the hero might have second thoughts or fears or personal

Doubts as to whether he is up for the challenge or moreover if he's actually the right person to take on that challenge

harry has personal doubts that he actually is a wizard I

Can't bail

I mean, I'm just

Harry

Just Hari

He doesn't think that he's the right person to take on the task and doesn't think he's able to go to Hogwarts

Harry's afraid to take on the huge Wizarding World and for a second thinks about staying in the comfort of the muggle world

Unless you'd rather stay of course

This step could also be applied to something later on in the series, which is Harry taking on the prophecy the prophecy

Said one of us is gonna have to kill the other

in the end once again

He's reluctant to take on that challenge

And isn't sure that he's able to do it or even that he's the right person to do it

he jumps at the

Possibility that the prophecy could be about Neville - that's really clinging on to that

Hoping that he's not the one that has to take on that task

Unfortunately one more did Markham Isis equal so the prophecy is about him now as I said we might be going a little bit out

Of order so right now

We're gonna skip ahead to step five and then come back to step four Step five is called crossing the threshold

here the hero commits to leaving the ordinary world and entering a new region with unfamiliar rules and values this applies to Harry when he

decides to leave the Dursleys and go with Hagrid he then enters the region of the Wizarding World when he goes to Diagon Alley and

Later when he goes to Hogwarts Harry's actions of crossing the threshold

Signifies his commitment to his journey this makes the audience bond with Harry because just like him we're entering this new world

He doesn't know any of the rules

Creatures or anything to do with the Wizarding World and neither do we?

What exactly are these things her goblins hurry now

We go back to the fourth step

Which is meeting the mentor in this step the hero could be given an object of great importance?

Insight into a dilemma. He faces wise advice training or even

Self-confidence, this is a big step for Harry the first thing to address is that he gets an object of great importance his wands this

For Harry is even more significant because that object shares the same core as the wand owned by the man who murdered his parents

This is the first insight he gets into the truth of how his parents died and why he was orphaned as a baby but the

Main purpose of this step is meeting the actual mentor

Which in Harry's case is Albus Dumbledore throughout the series Dumbledore gave Harry all of the things

I mentioned earlier first insight into a dilemma examples of this could be helping Harry discover why he?

Survived the night that Voldemort tried to kill him. It was because of your mother

She sacrificed herself for you

Leaves a mark

No, this kind of Mark cannot be seen he lives and you're very skilled

Another thing is giving Harry along with Hermione the idea and

Permission to go back in time and save both Buckbeak and his Godfather Sirius Black second

He helped Harry overcome his internal dilemma

But he and Voldemort were very similar and told him why he had such a connection to him he transferred some of his powers

And even after Dumbledore's death he helped Harry overcome the dilemma of how it could kill Voldemort third

He gave Harry an object other than his wand which was his dad's invisibility cloak and there were of course many

Examples of Dumbledore giving Harry wise advice it does not do to dwell on dreams

Do not create the dead Harry

Pretty to living

And above all all those who live without love Dumbledore also trained Harry

However it might not have been in the most classic way how he learned most of his magic from his professors

Hermione and just through life and the dilemmas to be at the face, but Dumbledore gave him training in the half-blood Prince

He gave Harry lessons these lessons were meant to Train Harry on how to defeat Voldemort

how to find all of his Horcrux is based on the wealth of information that Dumbledore provided it which of course

Focused on holding warts early life in other words Dumbledore the mentor trained Harry the hero to defeat his greatest task

Lord Voldemort and the final part of meeting the mentor staff was the mentor giving the hero confidence Dumbledore does this a number of times?

All right

You're wonderful boy

Brave

Brave man he a source Harry that he is a true Gryffindor would take a true Gryffindor

To pull that out of the hat, and he gives Harry the confidence to fight off Baltimore when he's possessing Harry's body

It's

How it feels like he's on his own many times throughout the series

But Dumbledore assures him that he's not and gives Harry the confidence to move on and embrace his

Relationships rather than push them away. Not only giving him confidence, but also some more advice you have friends here

Not alone well Dumbledore was definitely the most prominent mentor some other mentors, include Remus

Lupin who helped Harry with his Patronus and also gave him great advice

Also another mentor was his Godfather Sirius Black. Who Harry often turned to you for advice

He also gave Harry great confidence when he assured Harry that he was a good person

At a time when Harry was doubting this you're not a band cus

You're a very good person who bad things have happened to

You honest not

The next step is tests allies and enemies

This is where the hero faces a series of challenges

They test them in a variety of ways how he faces many obstacles

Throughout the series each presenting him with a new set of skills this includes stopping Quirrell and subsequently Voldemort from getting the philosopher's stone

facing a basilisk

Facing his ultimate fear the Dementors and gaining the ability to produce a Patronus

While those are the physical obstacles that he faced he also faced some internal obstacles one is him dealing with being famous

Famous Harry Potter can't even out of a book so without making the front page mr.

New

What makes this internal conflict

Even worse is that he's famous for something that constantly reminds him of what he lost that night in Godric's Hollow there are multiple times

Where Harry is so close to his parents, but it just won't become a reality he reaches out to touch his mother

But every time he gets close. He can't do it

You've been so great if sweetheart

Now focusing on the allies and enemies part of this step the people in his life for him throughout his journey

He has allies and enemies

Ron and Hermione are of course his allies who we trust over everyone and later in the series

He has Ginny

Neville Luna and the rest of the DA along with the order of the Phoenix all of whom have his back

Dobby the house-elf is another huge ally who helps Harry in the Triwizard Tournament it ultimately gives his life to save Harry and the others

Two people his friend

After

Looking at the enemies part. It's clear that his greatest enemy is the man who shares more than just a rivalry with come on

Let's finish this the way we started

Another enemy he has is Draco Malfoy someone

He constantly goes head-to-head with throughout his time at Hogwarts other enemies include Dolores Umbridge Dudley Dursley

Bellatrix Lestrange the person who murdered both his Godfather Sirius and his friend Dobby and of course his enemies with other Death Eaters as well

Moving on to the seventh step the approach to the inmost cave this is where the hero faces an inner

Conflict or faces an actual location in which lies

Terrible danger the inner conflict part of this step could be applied to Harry at several points throughout the series

He goes through a lot of inner conflict thinking that he's just like Voldemort this connection between me and Oldman

but if the reason for it is that I am becoming more like him I

Just feel so angry all the time

He thinks that because they can both speak to snakes both. He grew up parentless

No, thought of Hogwarts hasn't escaped and both were half-blood that his path would follow and Voldemort's footsteps

He starts to question everything and thinks that he should have been in Slytherin

His fear manifests even more when he talks to the sorting hat

I was just wondering if he put me in the right house, but I stand by what I said last year

You would have done well in

Another inner conflict that Harry faces is when the whole Wizarding World turns on it doesn't believe him that Voldemort had returned

He isolates himself and blocks everyone out even Ron and Hermione. He don't stop

Help us tick

He feels extremely alone and sort of falls into a depression in spite of paying back aha boots

I feel more alone than ever the second part of this step is facing an actual

Location which lies terrible danger this could be applied to the final book where Harry leaves the comforts of Hogwarts and looks for Voldemort's Horcruxes

there on the run and

Constantly in danger the location of the journey has changed completely they went from being safe at Hogwarts to being in more danger than ever

before

Shrieks kiss listen now once again. I'm gonna. Go a bit out of order

We're gonna skip ahead to step 10 and come back to eight and nine step. 10 is the road back

This is where the hero returns back to the ordinary world waiting the final step of his journey

which is not yet over this step for Harry is going back to the Dursleys one last time before he goes on his mission to

Find the Horcruxes. This is even more significant for Harry because once he leaves that house and turned 17 which is days away

He will no longer have the protective

Enchantment his mother gave him when she sacrificed herself to save them when she did this her protection lived on in her sister

petunia who shared the same bloodline once Harry leaves between his house and turn 17 that protection goes away making danger closer than ever

For the next part

I'm actually going to combine steps 8 and 11 step 8 is called the ordeal and step 11 is called the resurrection

Step eight states only through some form of death can the hero be reborn

Experiencing a metaphorical resurrection that somehow grants him greater power or insight necessary in order to fulfill his destiny

this is quite obviously applied to Herod when he literally faced his death when he

Sacrifices his own life so that Voldemort can be defeated

He talks to his fallen mentor and is reborn this now ties him to step 11 the resurrection how he literally is

resurrected in the final battle in this case in the Battle of Hogwarts

Now in step eight that part that says grants him greater power for Harry

He grants greater power after he sacrifices himself. This is because he put a protective and shan't man on everyone fighting for him

Just as his mother had done for him this allows Harry and his friends and allies to win the battle once and for all

No one fighting for Harry can die because of what Harry had done giving them a huge advantage or granting them a greater power

now going back to step 9

This one's called the reward in this step the hero emerges from the battle as a stronger person comes out with the prize this is

Applied to Harry as he comes back from the Battle of Hogwarts stronger than ever the prize

He attains is the Deathly Hallows the three objects that make the owner of all of them the master of death

He is the rightful owner of the Elder Wand the most powerful wand ever made

It's knowing he has the resurrection stone well until he dropped it in the forest

But he used it to see his loved ones before he gave his life

And he has the cloak of invisibility the cloak that was passed down in his family

And eventually given to him by Dumbledore and although Harry doesn't take on the mantle of being the master of death

he still attained it from his many years of conquering his journey making it his prize or reward and

Finally the last step step 12. This is the final stage of the hero's journey. He comes out a changed man

He has grown as a person learned many things and faced many terrible dangers and even death

But now looks forward to the start of his new life

Harry does just that he starts his new life

So what happened to Harry after both his journey and the series ended Harry did not go back to Hogwarts for a seventh year

But instead became an order or a Dark Wizard catchin the career

He'd wanted to pursue for many years

And he eventually became head of the order office

Harry also got his name on a chocolate frog card something that is a great honor in the Wizarding World

He eventually got married to the love of his life Ginny Weasley and had three kids

Albus James and Lily he mended his rivalries with both Draco Malfoy and his cousin Dudley Dursley

He and Dudley got their kids together every once in a while Harry

also

Helped race Teddy Lupin the son of one of his dear friends and mentors

Remus Lupin and his wife Nymphadora Tonks who was also great friends with Harry after he defeated, Voldemort

His scar didn't paint him ever again as JK said all was well

Harry story arc is one that will go down in history as one of the best story arcs ever written

Rowling perfectly applied the hero's journey to her incredible book series and showed us

How kind and selfless the hero of our favorite story really is?

Harry always put others before him and never gave up on the ones he loved he cherished each and every one of his friendships and

relationships

Throughout his journey Harry discovered the key to life, and that is love conquers all